Portico at Moss Bank
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in St Helens for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in October 2022. Open since 2008, with 66 places.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
WA11 7PQWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 7 October 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive at this inspirational and happy nursery. They come in smiling, greeting the staff with a cheerful 'good morning' and eager to start their day.
Children come together to have a social breakfast, serving themselves from a range of healthy foods and confidently chatting to staff and each other.
Babies are smiley, happy and very relaxed as they confidently explore their surroundings. They enjoy lots of cuddles and one-to-one warm interactions with their key person. They clearly feel nurtured and secure. Babies chuckle as they use chalks and crayons to draw on a huge piece of paper. They are supported to develop their core muscles and coordination skills exceptionally well, as they stretch and reach for the paper and crayons. Older children in the room wait in excited anticipation for their sing and sign session to start. They listen intently, and patiently wait for their turn to choose a rhyming song. They all laugh, clap and join in, expertly using signs to support the singing. This supports the rapid development of children's language and communication skills, especially their early literacy skills.
- 7 October 2022Outstanding
- 20 February 2017Outstanding
- 1 August 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Portico at Moss Bank
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.